Drawbar reverse lock



1,634,501 July 5v 1927', v. H. JACKSON DRAWBAR REVERSE LOCK Filed Sept. 29, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snom/ufo@ July v5, 1927 .v

v. H. .JACKSN DRAWBAR REVERSE LOCK `3 Shoots-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1925 j y 1,634,501 July 5 1927' t v. H. JACKSON DRAWBAR REVERSE LOCK `,f' Filed Sept. 29, 1925 l,/ 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 5,1927.

iiniransraiss PATENT OFFICE.

` VELS H. JACKSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY 'MESNE VASSIGrN'lVIIElN'lfS, TO THE GUSTAV SOI-IAEFER WAGON COMPANY`, O CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPOBA-- TION OF OHIO.

D RAwBAR n nviinsr Loox. .y 1

Application filed September 29, 1925. Serial No.l59,315.

f .invention relates to improvements in a drziwbar i'everfsedotfh and lo a novel method of operating scrapers obtainable with the use thereof. rlhe object of my invention is first to provide means for rigidly connecting a prime mover with its follower member in i'eversing or backing them as a unit, and second, to excavate oil grade in an improved and more expeditious manner so that the loosened earth need not be traversed by the prime mover or tractor.

My present invention will be explained in connection with the coupling of a power tractor and a scraper, although it will be obviousthat anyv other follower, such as a trailer, plow, mower or binder may be connected thereby for traction, as required.

Numerous appliances of the prior' art have been provided for tractively connecting I prime movers and followers, although very few of these have provided in any way for a reverse movement and none, to my knowledge, has provided forthe rigid locking of the prime mover and trailer in backing them as a unit.

rlhe device of my invention may be briefly described as comprising connective means, including` a freelyy pivoted link member which permits the usual angular tractive relation of the Yconnected members inturning` curves or corners. Associated With said link, there are provided rlocking, means which are automatically brought into operation for eiecting the centering or alinenient of the connecting link with the prime mover and locking it rigidly in alinement therewith, when the backing movement is continued. As an adjunct thereto, I prefer ably provide a 'universal connection between theA prime mover and the follower member so as to compensate for any inequalitiesin the ground traversed thereby.

rlhe details and functions of these members, together withmy improved method of operation may best be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view inside elevation, partially broken away and somewhat diagranr matic in character, illustrating my improved drawbar reverse-lock as'cperatively associated with a power tractor and a Fresno seiaper.

Fig 2 is a plan view of the same. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of my improved drawbar reverse-lock, also shown .in plan view with the members inangular tractive relation. V

Fig. 4 isfanother plan view'of my drawbar reverse-lock, but partially broken away and in section, showing the members thereof in locking relation.

Fig. 5 is a 'side elevation thereof, suggest-- ing by, dotted linesthe angular compensation afforded by the universal coupling.

i lligpG is'aii irregular longitudinal section on line 6 6, Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 isa plan View of the coinpositeyliiik vthe actuation of a scraper and the novel method of grading orexcavating therewith.

At the right of'Fig. l, I have somewhat diagrammatically' shown the rear portion of a tractor, of which the Wheelsa, 'body b, and seat c will readily be recognized.y Attached to the draWba-r Z ofsaid tractor, is my improved drawbar reverse-lock generally designated by reference character e connecting the scraper operatively to theA tractor. This scraper is provided with a dumping lever f, an actuating lever f and curved supf porting skids f3 of wellknown construction not necessary to be Idescribed in detail.'

Referring more particularly to Sheet 2 of the drawings, I may now explain the structural features of my improved reverselock. The upper and lower frame plates e* e thereof, are attached directly to the drawbar cl of any prime mover, between which thelinlcmember g is pivotally mounted upon the roller e, which bears interiorly of the slot g. wardly narrowed to Wedge-like form g,

Said link-member g is forwith lateral recesses g3 conforming to the peripheries or the paired rollers et, mounted between the trame plates e.

Yconnected with the biturcated casting e' by Ament oi the tractor and scraper i hile traveling over uneven ground.

' rllhusvtliedrawbar t5 or the scraper is connected between the limbs c" of the casting z', between which it issecured by the bolts 2' in order that the scraper may be rigidly conn'ected with and operated by the tractor, as will be later explained.

The functions of my improved reverse loci; may newv beset forth, preliminary to the explanation ot its Apreterred use in grading, efrcvating, and the llre. l/Vlienpower is applied to the drawbar, the parts will be extended and the linlr-n'iember will slide baclr toits'e'treme.rear position so that it may 'freely pivot about the roller c as the tractor moves forward. Any inequalities in the ground over which lthe tractor andscraper are advancing, will be compensated by means or the universal joint connection.r

The unique function or' my improved re- Verse loelr, however, is availed or upon baclring the, tractorl after the scraper has been dumped, or backing it to position :tor iiliing under any,L circumstances. The reversal ot xthe tractor, even when the connected tollow'erpis out or line to the extent shown in Fig. will serve to enter the wedge vshaped portion, g. between the opposing rollers c* et, s that the unloaded scraper or other follower may readily be slewed into aline- Inent with the tractor; the parts or my iniproved device'assumingthe position shown in Fig. 4. l y' y lThe lateral strains are talen up by the rollers c3 and cf* while the recesses g3 are closely embraced by the rollers e4 c, ai'ilording` practically no play tor the link-member. That portion or said link immediately rorward' ot the recesses g3 has approximately parallel sides which, stillA further torward thereot, merge into the Yacute-angled wedgeportion y, Fig. 4l. rlhus the rollers e* can exert `no tendency to displace the inserted link-member when subjected to lateral. pressure, since they bear upon the parallel sides thereof or the contours ot said recesses. rlhese associe-.ted and-combined elements, however, atiord the maximum advantage and moment in initially alining the tractor and scraper uponyb'a'clring, inasmuch as cramping and friction are minimized bythe universal-joint coupling, and by the rollers,

while the particular' shape ot the link-member contributes to the avoidance ot any possible jambing inan intermediate position.

Under these circumstances, it will be seen that the tractor-scraper unit, as l may term it, may bebaclzed in alinement to any desired position; the scraper being forcibly swung to one side or the other, it' necessary, under the impetus or' the tractor, so that the scraper may be accurately positioned in any desired .location y'tor filling the saine.

Reference may now be made to Sheet 3 ot' the drawings in order to explain some ot the advantages anda novel method ot' operating" with the tractor-scraper unit set torth as structurally exem'plitying my invention. in Fig. 8 l have diagrammatieally shown plowed area l, which is to be excavated by the tractor-sciapery unit s. F our dotted line positions ot said unit are indicated in the drawing as the unit encircles the plowed area l in continuousl circular path, taking a scraper `lull trom therear and advancing it. to the spoilpileQj, where the scraper load is dumped. yhe area 3 at the' left, may be assumed to have been scraped or excavated sutiiciently. tice with the orcinary equipment and 'presents the objections ot requiring a' relatively long path or travel for Athe tractor-scraper unit, together with the necessity for traveling over the plowed or loosened earth after lilling the Scraper until the spoil-pile is rear-hed. y Y

In contrast to the roregoing, reference may now be made to Fig. 9, illustrating an-r other plowed area l which is underj process oi excavation by means ot the tractor-scraper unit t-S equipped with myV improved dra-.vb'ar reversge-loclr.` Instead or starting 'from the position 'at the rear, z-S5, shown in dotted lines, and traversing the loosened or plowed earth in front oi it, the tir'st scraper load would be taken approximately from the 'forward dotted line position -ator that particular turrow and drawn torward t'or dinupingl upon the spoil-pile Q. Said tractor-scraper unit would then be backed to another rearward position, -Sg, tor example, and itsI load drawn forward and dumped upon the spoil-pile; the tinal load being taken from the tull line, t s', position and dumped asbeiorc. This operation ot shuttling baclr and forth being repeated, it will be understood, throughout the entire plowed area to be excavated until the spoil-pile has been extended entirely across the front ot said area to its right-hand edg and the Jrull amount or earth has been dumped thereon. This shuttlinaoperation is obtainable only by rigidly locking the scraper as a unit with its tractor. so that the former maybe accurately backed to any desired position, and this without traversing any ot' the plowed ground by the tractor,

'llhisrepi'e's'ents common pracsince the tractor-scraper unit.` preferably, if

not invariably, works from the front to,A the back of any given. area that is to be vexcavated or graded.

ltlloreover, the spoil-.pile is normally traversed twice by the tractorand-thereby it is pressed down and rolled into a relatively compact mass of earth, which 1s a particularly desirable feature in the event that em-l 9. However it` is not necess'ai'for yme further to expand upon the possibilities and widened uses of a prime mover when connected with a suitable follower, lsuch as any suitable type of scraper, plow, or other trailer advantageously operated by rigidly locking it in alinement with the tractor.

In the practical operationy of my improved automatic drawbar reverse-lock, it is Vfound desirable, upon reversing the tractor', accurately to gauge the position lof the link member in order to ascertain whether it will enter between the opposing centering meinbers or rollers. For this purpose I have provided as a Adesirable modihcation, the keyhole opening o, Fig. 2, in the upper and lower plates e of the frame or casing. The operative, by glancing back, may observe whether the link is too much out of alinement for it to enter between the rollers, e4 e4, and gov-4 ern his control of the tractor accordingly.

This keyhole opening, moreover, affords a ready means for attaching a chain drag merely by secr-.ring the links of the Vchain in the narrow portion of said opening, wherein the chain will be securely held.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention and its novel and advantageous mode of operation, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

l. ril`he combination with a Vprime mover and a follower', of a separate tractive-member connected rigidly with each and flexibly with each other, and means for rigidly locking said tractive-niembers in a horizontal plane upon the reverse movement of the prime mover, substantially as set forth.

2. rl`hc combination with a prime mover and a follower, of separate tractive-members respectivelyconnected rigidly with each, a universal tractiveeconnection between said members, and means for rigidly locking the tractive-men'ibers in a horizontal plane upon the reverse movement of tne prime mover, substantially as set forth.V

rversal .tr-active-connection nection for insuring the entry of the end of the link ybetween said centering members uponnthe telescoping action o f the parts, sub-A stantially as set forth.

4e. Inan appliance of the class described, A

the combination Awith a mounting frame, of two spaced opposing rollers therein, a longitudinally.Y ,slotted wedge-shaped link,a pivotal roller therefor positioned within a slot in said link whereon the same is slid- -abl-y mounted to` enter between said opposing rollers; said frame and link being adapt-l ed respectively to Aconnect a primeinover and a Vfollower :tractively andrigidly lock them upon t1-reverse movement ofthe prime mover, substantially' as set forth.

5. The combination with a tractor, of a y scraper, pivoted tractive-members respectively connected rigidly with each, a. uniinterposed between said tractor and scraper and a drawbar reverse-lock associated with said members, comprising two spaced opposing rollers positioned to aline y'the tractive-meinbers upon backing the tractor,`.substantially as set forth. Y

6. In an appliance of the class describec, the combination with upper and lower mounting plates,vof two spaced opposing rollersl` forwardly positioned therein, a longitudinally-slotted substantially wedgefshaped link havingV a section thereof formed with approximately parallel side walls, a rearward pivot positioned within theY slot in said link` whereon the same is slidably mounted to enter between theopposing rollers, whereby thek parallel sides are engaged between the rollers upon the telescoping action of the parts, substantially as set forth.

7. In an appliance of the class described, the combination with spaced upper and lower mounting plates, of a longitudinally-slotted approximately wedge-shaped member, interposed between said plates, two spaced centering rollers between which'the wedgeshaped ylink is adapted to enter, a pivotal roller positioned to engage the walls of the longitudinal slot for mounting said link, and an associated universal tractive-connection adapted to prevent binding action between' the link and its engaging elements, substantially as set forth.

l8. In an appliance of the class described, the combination with a frame or casing, of spaced alining members forwardly mounted therein, a slotted link member slidably mounted to enter between the alining members in its forward position, a universal tractive connection, and a rearward pivotal i'nember inthe easing` permitting the free niovement of said link thereon, substantially as set forth.

' In a drawbar reverse-lock, tlreA combinatien'with a' easing adapted to' be rigidly attaehed toy aprirne mover, oi an associated link member adapted to be yrigidly attached to a follower with refipeetto a givenlfjlane,

a universal traetive connection, and inea-ns provided within said casing for permitting the free pii'iotal movement of the link` in a rearward position with respect to the Casing, associated with further means Yfor rigidly looking said linl; and easing in alinment upon the teleseoping movement of said mem' bers, substai'itially set forth.

10'. In an applinnee oi' the class described, the combination with upper andv lower frame-plates, ot' two spaced centering rollers forwardly positioned therebetween, a wedgesha-p'ed link pivot-ally mounted rearwardly of said 'lrameplates in posi-tion to swing free of said rollers, and means for entering the wedge-shaped end of the linl; between said rollers upon the teleseoping' action vofthe members, substantiallyas set forth.

11. ln an appliance of the class d-seribed, the combination with upper and lower trarne-plates, of two' spaced centering rollers forwardly positioned therebetween, a i tudinally slotted wedge-shaped link adapted to enter between said rollers, and a pivotal roller rearwardly positioned between the frame-plates within the slotted link, whereon the same is slidably mounted to swing Yfree o1 said rollers, whereby the linl; is guided to enter into looking, relation between the eentering,` rollers upon the teleseoping action oit the: members, substantially as set forth.

'ln testimony whereof do now afiix my sionatfure.

VILAS H. JACKSON.'

, Q l. ,Y longi- 

